AN: This chapter was originally going to be longer, but I managed to recover some of my files so I figured I'd share this part.

Star Crossed and Everything

Chapter Three

The Higurashi shrine was bigger than he had imagined. With Tamaki's outlandish, misconceptions about commoner's and their lifestyles, he felt foolish for believing even half the nonsensical thoughts that sprouted from their faux king's mouth. And while Haruhi's home had been small and homey, Kagome's was quaint and relaxing. Though it was located in a hectic part of Tokyo, it was untouched both by the busy city and by time.

He found he liked that the most about the place.

Mori sighed peacefully as he watched Kagome busily sweep the shrine grounds through half-lidded eyes. She wasn't uptight like the girls from Ouran, shy like most of his clients, or even as apathetic as Haruhi was. She happily talked his ear off and could be just as tomboyish as their female host, and not to mention stubborn. He had offered her his help though she had adamantly refused, and so he patiently waited under the Goshinboku for her to finish.

Letting his head rest against the bark, he released a deep breath and closed his eyes. The sound of clashing bamboo swords rang through his ears. Their brothers, Satoshi and Souta, were busy practicing fighting against one another, preparing for a kendo competition that weekend.

It had been a little over a month now since he had first met her at the Cultural Festival, and mustered up the nerve to actually call her, with some major prodding from his cousin and brother.

He had felt like such a fool. His first time taking out a girl, and it was a disaster. He would have been lucky if she agreed to go out with him again. To his pleasant surprise, Kagome took it all in stride. She had laughed all of their bad luck off amazingly enough.

And from that disastrous fist date, he had found himself falling for her even more.

They were almost complete opposites. She was loud and expressive, and he silent and aloof. But they both shared a fondness for history. And she valued family above all else, something he could respect and relate to.

He barely stirred an inch when he felt her suddenly sitting close besides him. Her arm pressed against his and he felt his face begin to heat up.

"F-finished," he stuttered.

He opened his eyes to watch her with interest.

"Yep," she chirped looking up at him, seemingly not noticing his slight stammer. Smiling brightly at him, she leaned in closer and Mori could take in the sweet scent of her shampoo.

Her bright, blue eyes bore into his dark ones.

He loved her eyes the most. They truly were the window to her soul. One glance and he could instantly read what she was feeling. There was no pretense or hiding who she was. She proudly wore who she was for all to see.

"So, since Souta and Satoshi qualified for the kendo tournament this weekend," she started to speak and waited for his acknowledgement to go on.

He nodded his head for her to continue.

"I was thinking we could go together. I have a dance class in the morning, so how about we meet up there? And afterwards we can check out the amusement park. I think our brothers would really like that," she excitedly asked.

Smiling softly down at her, he spoke, "And what about you? Will you like to go to there?"

She looked shocked for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

"You know what, I really would. I haven't been since middle school," she said and he nodded his head, agreeing to her plans that weekend.

"I'm glad you could drop by again, Takashi," she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder. He stiffened a bit at the contact, tense, but he found his shoulders quickly relaxing under her touch.

She let out a small yawn. Finding it cute, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer to him. He was thankful that she had closed her eyes so she would not see just how red his face had become.

"Huh, Mori-senpai isn't here again," Haruhi commented as she took a swift look around the room. She was helping prepare the club room for the day's activities, and while Kyoya and Tamaki were busy in the back, the twins were lounging lazily on the couches and Honey was napping nearby. Thankfully they weren't cosplaying, and she only needed to worry about making coffee and tea for their guests.

"What, again," Hikaru said, looking up from his spot on the couch to find that their tallest host was indeed gone.

Karou shook his head and added, "Isn't this like the third Friday that he's skipping?"

"He's also been acting a little weird," Haruhi mused aloud, her mind wondering to the silent third year. It was the little details that threw them off, like how he had been zoning out lately, and his eyes were practically glued to his cell phone screen.

"He's been a little grumpier too," the twins said, crossing their arms and outing as they remembered an earlier incident that week.

Haruhi rolled her eyes at their antics before pointing out, "You guys were trying to take his food, of course someone wouldn't like that."

"Hey, we were only messing around. And we thought you made it," they said, defending their actions.

"Messing around with what," Tamiki asked as he and Kyoya strode into the room.

"They were trying to take Mori-senpai's lunch the other day. And why would you think I made it for him," she asked, arms crossed as she waited for their answer.

The twins looked at one another, shrugged, then turned back to the female host.

"Well," Hikaru started off.

"It was a homemade bento," Karou took over.

"And you're the only one who knows how to cook," Hikaru explained.

"And we just wanted a taste," they both finished. And it was true. The bento was nothing like anybody at school had ever made. With tanuki shaped rice balls and octopus weenies, it certainly looked like Haruhi's handiwork.

"Maybe one of his clients gave it to him," Haruhi said, shrugging, not really all that interested.

"Maybe, but that still doesn't explain his other odd actions or the fact that he's been skipping," Hikaru shot back.

"Does Mori-senpai not want to be part of the club anymore," Tamaki started to wail dramatically. He quickly grabbed onto the closest person next to him for comfort, which unfortunately for the first year, was Haruhi.

Haruhi sighed dejectedly and wished she had kept her mouth shut.

"Tamaki-senpai, keep it down or you're going to wake Honey-senpai," she scolded the blond as she pried herself from his grasp.

The twins looked at each other mischievously before smirking at their king. "Why don't you wake him up boss? After all, Honey-senpai would be the only one who knows what's going on."

Tamaki fervently shook his head no, terrified of the idea of waking the smaller blond. "No, no. I'm sure we can wait to find out if there even is something wrong with Mori-senpai."

"What's this about, Takashi," Honey yawned cutely as he slowly rose from the couch. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked around the room. Everyone had frozen, probably unsure how he would react. Luckily for them, they were not the cause of his awakening. He just wanted some cake.

Kyoya adjusted his glasses before coolly answering, as everyone was still too scared to move. "We were merely wondering about Mori-senpai's whereabouts as he seemed to have skipped club hours again today."

"Takashi isn't skipping," Honey quickly defended his cousin, though he did feel a bit bad about lying. But Mori was a private person, and he would tell the club when he was ready.

"Oh, so where is he then," Hikaru asked.

"He's helping Sato-chan prepare for a kendo tournament this weekend."

"That explains today, but not his recent absences," Karou inquired.

Kyoya nodded his head in agreement and said, "Right, I'm sure there is a valid reason for his absences, right Honey-senpai?"

But the third year was no longer paying them any attention. He was seated right in front of the desert table, happily munching down on his favorite treat, Usa-chan right at his side.

"Well, this is Mori-senpai we're talking about," Tamiki reminded the group.

"Yeah, he wouldn't just blow us off," Haruhi continued.

"Right?"

Kagome led the group of girls in a few basic exercises to wind down their practice. Though she tried to give them her full attention, her mind kept wandering to her boyfriend.

She had to choke down a giggle. She still couldn't say (or rather think) that with a straight face. It was just, whenever Mori came to mind, she just felt so giddy.

He was different, quieter for sure. But she found his silence endearing instead of off-putting. And as they spent more time together, she found that his silence could be interpreted as his own language. And when he smiled those small smiles of his, the butterflies in her stomach would flutter uncontrollably.

He really was a good guy.

He cared enough to ask her what she wanted to do. She had gotten so used to agreeing with others to appease them, that she never put herself first. It was a nice change for once.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Kagome called out to the group of middle school girls as she finally noticed the time. She had been worried before about whether there would be a disconnect between her and the girls from Lobelia, especially since she was from a different class from the others.

But thanks to Benio and the rest of the Zuka Club, Lobelia had welcomed her with open arms. Too open, actually. She had been confessed to a total of three times, in the last month alone. And somehow she had managed to acquire her own fanclub (thankfully it was much smaller than the Zuka Club's).

Speaking of the devil. As the younger students piled out after some idle chatter, Benio strode in with Hinako and Chizuru.

"Hey you guys, what brings y'all here," Kagome asked as she busily packed away her gear, avoiding Chizuru's attempts at latching onto her. She barely had time to take a quick shower in the locker room if she wanted to make it to Souta and Satoshi's match on time.

"We wanted to see if you wanted to hang out today, Kagome-senpai," Hinako answered. She was the saner one of the three, alone she could almost be called normal.

"Yes, we're starting a new production. You'd be a wonderful fit for the female lead," Benio added, as she joined Chizuru's efforts to grab hold of her, though Kagome expertly managed to avoid the two.

"Sorry you guys, but I just don't have the time," she honestly replied. She did occasionally help out with the theater work. Normally she filled in for extras or when no one was either brave or suited enough for a main role. But the dance club's winter show was coming up, and she had earned the lead and starting in the next few days, her practice time would triple.

Hinkao pouted and said, "Aww, that's too bad. Do you want to hang out with us still?"

"Yes, you can help us find a replacement," Chizuru added, finally catching her target. Clutching Kagome from behind, she rested her head on the miko's shoulder.

Kagome pried herself free. "Can't, I'm going to my brother's kendo tournament today."

"Why don't we go with you? Who knows what kind of swine will harass our lovely shrine maiden," Benio spoke, clutching her forehead overdramatically as she pointed a finger at her.

Kagome tensed, none too eager for the girls to learn she was seeing a boy. She would never hear the end of it. She started to stutter, "N-no. That's okay. Really you guys. I know how much you hate being around boys."

"We'd be willing to make that sacrifice for you Kagome-chan."

"No really, it's alright. And besides I can take care of myself." Not giving them a chance to reply, Kagome hastily left the room.

"Hmm, something's up with Kagome," Chizuru thoughtfully stated, her gaze lingering on the spot Kagome had just occupied.

Benio agreed and said, "Yes, I say we follow her just to be safe."